For exposing himself to young girls, man gets 84 days in jail, six years' probation

He asked girls for help and then exposed himself

A Fridley man will spend 84 days in jail and be on probation for six years following a sentencing hearing Friday for exposing himself to several girls last year.

Judge Robert Awsumb made the ruling against Brian Erik Thompson, 26, in Ramsey County District Court.

Thompson, in court with his wife, father and siblings, also will have to appear in front of Awsumb on Feb. 26 for a status review. The judge said he would either waive or impose an additional 90-day jail sentence at that time, depending on Thompson's compliance with the terms of his probation. He received six days' credit off the first 90-day sentence.

Thompson's sentence begins March 13.

He also must pay a fine; remain law-abiding; have no contact with the victims, minors or vulnerable adults; not have any unapproved access to the Internet; and possess no pornographic or sexually explicit material.

The judge stayed sentences of one year in jail for each of three counts of criminal sexual conduct.

Thompson pleaded guilty in November to fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct — a gross misdemeanor — in three incidents in 2008 where he exposed himself to girls, all younger than 16:

On Feb. 6, Thompson drove up to a 15-year-old girl on Pascal Street in Roseville and asked for directions. His penis was exposed.

On April 29, Thompson pulled up to a girl walking home from school in St.

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Paul and asked for directions. When she approached to point out the way on a map, Thompson exposed himself to her.

On June 17, Thompson exposed himself to a 14-year-old girl delivering papers in Roseville.

Since his arrest June 18 — the 14-year-old girl was able to give police his license plate number — Thompson has entered a treatment program for sex offenders.

One of the victims submitted an impact statement before sentencing.

"She was very traumatized by your display," Awsumb said.

Thompson expressed his regret to the judge in a barely audible voice.

"I know that it was wrong," he said, later adding, "I'm so sorry for that. I wish I could take it back, take it all back.

"I want to let you know that this won't happen again," Thompson said.

In issuing the sentence, Awsumb said his biggest worry was that Thompson's "very unusual and disturbing pattern of behavior" wouldn't stop.

Thompson was on probation for a misdemeanor nonconsensual sex contact conviction in 2003 when the earliest exposure incidents occurred.